Thursday, October 25, 2012

Phoenix Bike Path Life: big horn, pyramid, oasis

Desert Big Horn on a butte, inside the zoo, seen from bike path outside the zoo

Three things very easy to see while cycling along the Crosscut Canal.

The only time I've seen desert big horn up close in Arizona was at the Grand Canyon, where there were some scary-tame ones that would approach very close. I'm not sure if they were relocated, but I know that sharing a narrow trail over a high drop-off with one of these felt unsafe, even if it was just looking for a handout. I got close enough to pat one on the back, which just seemed too close for good sense. I have seen them very far away on a few mountain ranges.

I read the story of how Boy Scouts in Arizona campaigned to save the Desert Big Horns starting back in 1936, culminating in the establishment of two desert big horn ranges, but then I started thinking about what happened to many of those Scouts right after that, which may be why the big horn story is not very well known.

I also like your photo of Papago Park. I'd like to ride on that bike path sometime when I'm up in the "Valley of the Sun".

I ride on the bike paths here in Tucson very often. The Rillito River Trail and the Santa Cruz River Trail have now been connected, so that the road rider can travel around 40 miles (end-to-end and return). All this with no automobile traffic.

Pimadude the Crosscut path terminates on the north end at the Arizona Canal path, and at the south near Tempe Town Lake, which connects to the Scottsdale Indian Bend Wash path, a combo which also offers many miles of car-free riding, except for a few intersections/crossings and some short link-ups. I would also like very much to ride the Rillito River Trail some time.

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Let's Just Ride

I commute by bicycle in Phoenix, Arizona, a metropolis suited to riding bicycles of all types, with weather, mountains, roads, canals, and paths to keep me forever spinning. My favorite bike tools are an open mind, creative engagement, curiosity, compassion, common ground, and the search for knowledge.

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